Table of Contents
An Introduction to Whitby
From the atmospheric Abbey towering over winding cobbled streets to the windswept beach and working harbour, Whitby is not your traditional coastal town. No trip to this picturesque ancient seaport would be complete without sampling some award-winning fish and chips, following the footsteps of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and English explorer Captain James Cook or discovering the history of the famous Whitby Jet.
Enjoy the North York Moors, Yorkshire Coast and Howardian Hills by public transport, find out more.
Places to Stay in Whitby
Hotels in Whitby
The following hotels are in or very close to Whitby.
Sneaton Castle
Castle Road, Whitby, YO21 3QN, United Kingdom
The Stables at Crossbutts
Guisborough Road, Whitby, YO21 1TL, United Kingdom
The Woodlands
The Valley, Sandsend, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3TE
Dunsley Hall Country House Hotel
Dunsley, Whitby, YO21 3TL, United Kingdom
The Seacliffe – Whitby
12 North Promenade, Whitby, YO21 3JX, United Kingdom
The Resolution Hotel
1 Skinner Street, Whitby, YO21 3AH, United KingdomThere’s more hotels to choose from in Whitby. Click here to view them all.
Self Catering Holiday Cottages
Below you can see a small sample of the many great holiday cottages in Whitby. Click here to view them all.
Sea Urchin
22 Grove Street, Whitby, YO21 1PP, United Kingdom
Whalebone Cottage
Whitby, YO21 1TL, United Kingdom
Host & Stay – The Townhouse
24 Church Street, Whitby, United Kingdom
Host & Stay – Mast Cottage
11 The Cragg, Whitby, United Kingdom
Esk View Holiday Cottage
22 The Carrs, Ruswarp, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1RL
Pennysteel Cottage
3 Boathouse Yard, Staithes, Whitby, North Yorkshire, TS13 5BNThings to do in Whitby
The Stables Restaurant & Farm Shop at Cross Butts
Guisborough Road, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1TL
The Magpie Cafe
14 Pier Road, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3PU
Whitby Abbey
Whitby Abbey, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4JT
Old Coastguard Station
The Dock, Robin Hoods Bay, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4SJ
Whitby Coastal Cruises
The Brewery Steps, Lower Harbour, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3PR
Whitby Brewery
East Cliff, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4JR
Whitby Whale Watching
6a Albion Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1ES
Ellerby Country Inn
12-14 Ryeland Lane, Ellerby, Whitby, North Yorkshire, TS13 5LP
Bark Endeavour
Pier Road, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3PU
Baxtergate Shop & Cafe
Baxtergate, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1BW
Wetwheels Yorkshire
Wetwheels Yorkshire, Whitby Harbour, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1YW
Whitby Museum Tea Room
Pannett Park, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1RE
White Horse & Griffin Restaurant
87 Church Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4BH
W Hamond Tea Room
Directly Above W Hamond Boutique, 112 Church Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4DE
The White House Restaurant
Upgang Lane, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3JJ
The Wheatsheaf Inn
Egton, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1TZ
The Runcible Spoon
16 High Street, Hinderwell, Whitby, North Yorkshire, TS13 5JH
The Postgate
Egton Bridge, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1UX
The Hare & Hounds
High Street, High Hawsker, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4LH
The Four Seasons Restaurant
14 Bridge Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4BG
The Fisherman’s Wife
Khyber Pass, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3PZ
The Angel Hotel
1 New Quay Road, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1DH
The Artisan Cafe @ The Geall Gallery
Front Street, Grosmont, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO225QE
Skippers Cafe
Skippers Café, 5 Haggersgate, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3PP
Shepherds Hall Tea Rooms & Craft Gallery
Lealholm, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 2AQ
Royal Fisheries
48 Baxtergate, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1BL
Rusty Shears
3 Silver Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3BU
Romerojo’s
5a Golden Lion Bank, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3BS
Quayside
7 Pier Road, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3PU
Raithwaite Estate Dining
Sandsend, Raithwaite, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3ST
North Beach Cafe
North Beach, North Promenade, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3EN
Moors Coffee Shop
The Green, Goathland, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 5LX
Mister Chips Seafood Restaurant
68/69 Church Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4AS
Mallyan Spout Bar and Restaurant
The Common, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 5AN
Mademoiselles
1 Skinner Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3AH
Humble Pie ‘n’ Mash
163 Church Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4ASWhitby images
About Whitby
Whitby is one of the most famous and popular seaside towns in Yorkshire.
Whitby is split by the River Esk. On the East Cliff, overlooking the North Sea, the ruined Gothic Whitby Abbey was Bram Stoker’s inspiration for “Dracula”. Nearby is the Church of St. Mary, reached by 199 steps.
The Captain Cook Memorial Museum, in the house where Cook once lived, displays paintings and maps.
West of town is West Cliff Beach, lined with beach huts.
As well as being the birthplace of some of modern history’s best known stories, Whitby has a maritime, mineral and tourist heritage.
Tourism started in Whitby during the Georgian period and developed with the arrival of the railway in 1839. Its attraction as a tourist destination is enhanced by the proximity of the high ground of the North York Moors national park and the heritage coastline and by association with the horror novel Dracula.
For industry, as well as fishing, Jet and alum were mined locally, and Whitby jet, which was mined by the Romans and Victorians, became fashionable during the 19th century.
The abbey ruin at the top of the East Cliff is the town’s oldest and most prominent landmark.
Other significant features include the swing bridge, which crosses the River Esk and the harbour, which is sheltered by the grade II listed East and West piers.
The town’s maritime heritage is commemorated by statues of Captain Cook and William Scoresby, as well as the whalebone arch that sits at the top of the West Cliff.
The town also has a strong literary tradition and has featured in literary works, television and cinema.
See more on the Yorkshire Coast here.
Whitby on the Map
Where is Whitby? You can find Whitby at the edge of the North York Moors National Park, on the beautiful Yorkshire Coast. Specifically, it is in North Yorkshire, in between Scarborough and Saltburn.
Whitby has a train station, at the end of a branch line from Middlesbrough, and is on the main A171 road which runs from Middlesbrough to Scarborough. There is a junction in the middle of the town with the A174 which follows the coast more closely, through the towns of Saltburn, Marske and Redcar.
Whitby FAQ’s
Is Whitby worth visiting?
Short answer: yes! A compact, historic harbour town with bustling cafe’s, restaurants, steps up to an ancient abbey and glorious sea views.
What is Whitby famous for?
Whitby is famous for fish & chips as well as Whitby Abbey – the inspiration for the setting of Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula”.
Who is the most famous person in Whitby?
Captain Cook – Captain James Cook is famous for his discovery of Australia. He was a British explorer, navigator, cartographer, captain in the British Royal Navy and most likely one of Whitby’s most famous people.
Why is Whitby famous for Dracula?
Novelist, Bram Stoker, stayed in Whitby and used the ancient ruins of the abbey overlooking the cliffs as the setting for his gothic horror “Dracula”.